Posted on 07/23/2006 4:20:02 AM PDT by Aussie Dasher
MELBOURNE scientists believe they may have found a cure for Alzheimer's disease if tests on mice prove successful in humans.
In a world first, a Melbourne research team has developed a once-a-day pill that could stop the debilitating disease in its tracks.
Human trials of the drug PBT2 will begin next month.
Professor George Fink, director of the Mental Health Research Institute of Victoria, which developed the drug in partnership with Prana Biotechnology, said it was a major breakthrough.
"I'm getting great excitement out of it, it's certainly another Eureka," he said on Channel 10.
"If we can replicate in a human what occurs at the lab bench then this will be of great, immense importance."
Prof Fink said the drug could prevent or delay Alzheimer's from developing.
PBT2 works by attacking a build up of the protein amyloid, which is thought to cause the brain to rust.
Clinical tests on animals have found the drug acts fast, with amyloid levels dropping by 60 per cent within 24 hours of a dose.
About 700 Australians are diagnosed with Alzheimer's each week, with that figure expected to triple within 40 years.
"It is a major breakthrough and very much a Melbourne discovery," Prof Fink told the Sunday Herald Sun.
"Though much depends on the next phase of human clinical trials ... early results indicate this drug offers hope to people with Alzheimer's disease."
Alzheimer's Australia (Victoria) executive director Lynette Moore welcomed the development.
"The earlier we can get at this disease the more likely it is that we're going to halt it in its tracks or reverse it and the people aren't going to suffer the consequences," Ms Moore said on Channel 10.
They need to put those things in a big gum ball dispenser on the senate floor.
Aim it at Specter and Lard Ass for starters!!!
Phhooop on the Senate. I'd like to see this on the market while my father still knows who I am.
This would be just amazing. Let's hope it proves itself in human trials.
Do whatever you can to get him in the trial, and good luck to you.
Thanks for posting this information. I hope you can follow the development and tests and let us know what they say once the human testing is done.
I certainly shall.
In the meantime, let's all pray for its success.
Way to go! This could prevent untold suffering!
Anyone who has had a close relative die from this disease is in the unenviable position of understanding what it is like to see someone die several times over several years.
It gets to the point where going to see the loved one takes tremendous courage as no doubt you will wind up in the front seat of your parked car after the visit sobbing.
I went through it with my grandmother. It was dreadful.
I'll send the information to my mother, and pray!
Same deal here, only in our case my maternal grandmother was mercifully carried off by a stroke before things got really bad.
Been there -- and past -- my own father's point of non-recognition. You have my sincerest, deepest sympathies...
My grandfather 'lived' with alzhiemers for 20 years. He was reduced to a juvenile delinquent with no memory at all. Very sad.
He had been a genius mechanic, machinist, and farmer. The only thing holding him back from wealth and industrial empire was a total lack of business sense. He failed at any number of ventures, but I admire his memory because even though he always failed, he was never beaten until his own mind betrayed him.
He was at least able to provide his wife a good living from various pensions and royalties, which included a WW1 veterans pension.
My deapest sympathies.
I went through it with my Mom. She passed away in '02, I was in my 30s at the time.
So hopeful this treatment is successful. The long drawn out emotional pain suffered by the victim, family and friends is "dreadful" to say the least.
What a miracle!
No, you have my sympathies! I'm just anticipating the worst, but you've been through it!
We built on to our house and kept my mother in law for a couple of years. Just last week we moved her to a memory care facility. She's just about 1 year old. And does everything that 1 year old does.... ugh. It just became to much. I hope this works for my wife's sake. I want to get her started on the medicine to prevent it.
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